JPS63149522A - Apparatus for automatic filling of fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce filling work and to accurately perform said work, by a method wherein it is judged whether the filling of a fluid is possible from container data and filling quantity is weighed by two weighing means and the control of filling is performed by manual operation and a control means. CONSTITUTION:Container data is recorded on a control part 26 at every container 2 and data such as a discrimination number is displayed on the display part 30 of each container 2. The control part 26 reads the container data from the display to judge whether the filling of a fluid is possible. The residual gas amount of fluid allowed to fill in the container 2 is weighed by placing the container 2 on the common weighing stand 6 of the first and second weighing means, a balance 4 and a load cell. Filling is started by the manual operation of a manual valve 14 or the filling start signal V of the control part 26 and the finish thereof is performed by the weighing output of the balance 4 or the filling release signal V of the control part 26.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an automatic filling device for fluids such as LPG and other liquefied gases, and particularly relates to fluid filling control.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, when filling a container (cylinder) with LPG, the container collected from the consumer is weighed on a scale, and the weight of the container is subtracted from the measured value (total weight) to calculate the remaining gas weight. After determining from the labeling on the container whether or not it is within the legal deadline (statutory container inspection expiration date), for containers that meet the legal deadline, add the container weight and add the weight to be filled to the balance of the LPG filling machine for each container. I am setting it up and filling it with LPG.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the LPG filling device includes a balance 4 for weighing the LPG filled in the container 2, and the weighing is performed by placing the container 2 on a weighing stand 6. And LP
G is filled with LP into the injection part 8 of the container 2 via the filling valve 10.
After connecting the supply pipe 12 of G, when the operation button of the manual valve 14 is pushed in the direction of arrow a, the manual valve 14 is closed, and the pilot valve 16 is opened by the action of the pressure P1 of the compressed air AIR applied through the air passage 15. is opened, and compressed air AIR passes from the pilot valve 16 through the air passage 17 to the air-operated valve 18.
The pressure P2 causes the air-operated valve 18 to open, and LPG is introduced into the container 2 through the air-operated valve 18 and filled. Then, the weight of the container 2 is the set weight of the balance 4 (=container weight (tare weight) Wb + filled gas weight ff1W
, ), the balance 4 is tilted through the fulcrum 20 as shown by the broken line, the valve 22 is opened, and the air passage 15 is connected to the valve 2.
2, the exhaust state is reached as indicated by the arrow. Therefore, the pressure p+ that was acting on the air-operated valve 16 at step No. is released, the pressure P2 of the compressed air AIR that was acting on the air-operated valve 18 through the pilot valve 16 is released, and the air-operated valve 18 is closed. LPG filling is released.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, in such a filling device, it is necessary to weigh the same container twice: once to measure the remaining gas amount and when filling the gas, and the weighing amount is changed for each container depending on the tare.
Filling the container required tedious work such as checking the label on the container. For example, a container of 50 is 50k
We will be filling the container with 50g of LPG, but even if the container is for 50kg, the weight will vary, so add 50g to the container weight.
It will be filled until the additional weight of kg of LPG is reached. For this reason, the weighing weight is different for each container, and calculations are required for each container, which inevitably leads to operator misreading of the display, miscalculation, etc.
There was a risk of overfilling due to incorrect weighing settings.

Conventionally, residual gas measurement and filling measurement are performed using the same scale, but even if the scale is shared, inconveniences such as weight setting cannot be avoided.

Therefore, the present invention aims to reduce the work involved in filling fluids such as liquefied gas, and to enable accurate filling.

[Means for solving problems]

As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic fluid filling device of the present invention includes a first measuring means (balance 4) that measures the fluid by placing a container 2 filled with a fluid (for example, LPG) on a measuring table 6.
, a second measuring means (load cell 24 ) that shares the weighing table 6 on which the container 2 is placed with the first measuring means and performs measurement together with the first measuring means; The data is read to determine whether or not the container 2 can be filled with fluid, and the filling is started.
The second filling amount is calculated based on the measured value of the measuring means.
a control means (control unit 26) that releases the filling when the meter of the measuring means reaches a value; and a fluid supply path (supply pipe 12) by manual operation or by the filling start output of the control means.
and a filling operation section 28 that opens the fluid supply path and shuts off the fluid supply path by the metering output of the first metering device or by the filling/unloading output of the control device.

[For production]

Container data such as the container number, filling capacity, legal expiry date, etc. of the container 2 is recorded in the control means for each container 2, and data such as the container data or an identification number for reading the container data is recorded in each container 2. is displayed using a barcode or the like (display form 30). Therefore, based on the container number displayed on the collected container 2, the control means (control unit 26)
The container data stored in the container is read out to determine whether or not the fluid can be filled.

The amount of residual gas in the container 2 or the fluid to be filled is measured by placing the container 2 on a common weighing table 6 of the first and second measuring means.
It is measured by both measuring means.

Filling is performed by opening a fluid supply path to the container 2 by manual operation or a filling start signal from the control means, and filling is completed by a measuring output of the first measuring means or a filling release signal from the control means. It will be done.

For example, when performing filling control by the control means, the first
If the set weight of the measuring means is set to the filling permissible limit of the container, overfilling due to malfunction on the control means side can be avoided by the measuring output.

It is also possible to manage the filling of fluid into the container 2 by individually using the first measuring means, the fluid filling mechanism and the control means, or the second measuring means and the fluid filling mechanism.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the automatic fluid filling device of the present invention.

This automatic filling device fills the container 2 with a fluid such as L.
A second measuring means in which the weighing platform 6 is shared with a balance 4 serving as a first measuring means for filling LPG in a container 2 by placing the container 2 on a weighing platform 6. It is equipped with a load cell 24 that electrically performs measurement.

The balance 4 is equipped with a link mechanism 32 for applying the weight of an object to be weighed, such as a container 2, placed on a weighing platform 6. It works through.

The LPG supply pipe 12 installed as a supply path in the injection part 8 of the container 2 placed on the weighing platform 6 is connected to the filling valve 1.
Connected via 0. and LPG for container 2
The filling and release of LPG are performed by opening and closing an air-operated valve 18 installed in a filling operation unit 28 that supplies LPG and releases it.
It is opened and closed by the action of compressed air AIR through 6.

That is, the air-operated valve 18 is opened by closing the air passage 15 by manually operating the manual valve 14, or by operating the electromagnetic valve 36 in response to the filling start signal (2) from the control unit 26. , pressure P1 by compressed air AIR is applied to the pilot valve 16, and the pilot valve 1
This is done by applying the pressure P2 of compressed air AIR to the air-operated valve 18 through 6. Further, the closing operation of the air-operated valve 18 is performed by operating the valve 22 by the link arm 38 of the link mechanism 32 of the balance 4 to bring the air passage 15 into the exhaust state as indicated by the arrow, or by charging the air passage 15 from the control unit 26. The solenoid valve 40 is operated by the stop signal 2, the air passage 15 is brought into the exhaust state as shown by the arrow C, the compressed air AIR acting on the pilot valve 16 is brought into the exhaust state as shown by the arrow d, and the pilot valve The pressure P2 of compressed air AIR acting on the air operated valve 18 acting through 16 is released.

The control unit 26 is composed of a control computer, etc., and has an input unit 262, an arithmetic unit 264, a storage unit 266, and the like, in order to perform necessary data input/output and control operations.
, and an output section 268.

The input unit 262 receives the weighing signal V1 from the load cell 24,
Container data signal ■ read from the display tag 30 of the container 2 with a data reader 42 such as a barcode league. , a filling start input signal VI from the filling start switch 44, and various necessary data are taken in from a keyboard (not shown), etc.

The calculation unit 264 receives the container data signal ■. The container data stored in the storage unit 266 is read out from the container number manually entered as the container number, and it is determined whether or not it conforms to the expiration date, etc., and the determination result is stored in the storage unit 266 as reference data, and Calculates the appropriate filling amount of LPG for the container 2 based on the weighing signal (2) from the load cell 24, generates a filling start command based on the input of the filling start input signal V from the filling start switch 44, and A filling end command is generated based on the generation of the measurement signal (2) of the load cell 24 corresponding to the appropriate filling amount.

The storage unit 266 stores container data such as the container number, legal expiration date, and capacity of the container 2 that contains fluid such as LPG, and programs necessary for calculation and control.

Further, the output unit 268 generates a necessary control output based on the filling start command, the filling end command from the calculation unit 264, or the determination result of the container 2. That is, in response to a determination result that the container 2 is defective, an alarm signal □ representing the defect is generated, and a filling start signal V is output that operates the solenoid valve 36 in response to a filling start command and a filling end command. At the same time, it outputs a filling release signal (2) that operates the solenoid valve 40.

The alarm device 46 is composed of a buzzer, an alarm lamp, and the like that operate in response to the alarm signal □□, and notifies the user that the container 2 is defective by sound or light.

Next, the quality determination of the container 2 and the fluid filling control when using this automatic filling device will be explained with reference to FIG.

The storage unit 266 of the control unit 26 assigns a number to each container 2 and stores container data corresponding to the number.
As shown in Figure 3, a display word 3゜ representing the container number for identifying each container 2 is created and affixed as container data displayed using a bar code, etc., and then provided to the consumer. , the used container 2 is collected from the consumer.

Therefore, in step S1, the container number is read as container data from the display word 30 shown in FIG. S
2, the quality of the container 2 is determined. As a result of the determination, if the container 2 is defective, such as when the container 2 has exceeded the legal deadline, the process moves to step S, where the alarm 46 is operated, and the operation indicates that the container 2 is defective. I understand. In addition, if the container 2 is a conforming product, step S
, the container 2 is placed on the weighing platform 6 and weighed using the balance 4 and the load cell 24.

In step S4, the calculation unit 264 receives data through the input unit 262.
The weighing signal ① of the load cell 24 is taken in, the container type Wtw b is read from the container number stored in advance, and the residual gas weight i W in the container 2 is calculated.

That is, the residual gas weight 1w in container 2 is W, = W, -W
, ...(1). And step S,
From the allowable light @ amount W1 to the filling amount W for each container 2.

Calculate.

The filling amount W0 corresponding to the legal allowable filling amount W determined by the container 2 is as follows: Wo=W, -W, -.-+21.

After the calculation of the filling amount w0 is completed, the control unit 26 moves to step S, and fills the filling start switch 4.
4 is closed, and the filling start signal ■ is output from the output section 268.
is output, and the solenoid valve 36 enters the operating state. Solenoid valve 3
6 operates, compressed air AIR acts on the pilot valve 16 through the solenoid valve 3G, the pilot valve 16 closes due to the pressure P1, and the compressed air AIR acts on the air-operated valve 18 through the pyro-/ ) valve 16, and its pressure P2
The air-operated valve 18 is opened and LPG is supplied to the container 2 and filled.

In step S7, the container 2 is filled 1w. It is determined whether or not the allowable filling NWo has been reached, and if the allowable filling NWo has not been reached, the filling is continued. And the filling amount W of the container 2. is the allowable filling amount W. If it has been reached, the process moves to step S6, and the filling release signal 2 is outputted from the output section 268. That is, the solenoid valve 40 is opened by the filling release signal V, the compressed air AIR acting on the pilot valve 16 is released, and the pilot valve 16 enters the exhaust state as shown by arrow d. As a result, the pressure P2 of the compressed air AIR acting on the air-operated valve 18 is released, and the air-operated valve 1
8 is in the closed state, and the LPG filling is released.

In addition, in step S1°, the balance 4 is loaded with the weight fflw, which is the weight W of the container 2 plus the maximum allowable filling 1-.
, 4° are set by weights 4a and 4b. In this case, since the filling capacity of each container 2 is uneven, the weight WHo set in the balance 4 is a value that takes into account the non-uniformity of the weight of the containers 2.

Then, in step S11, when the manual valve 14 is operated, the compressed air AIR acts on the pilot valve 16 through the manual valve 14, and the compressed air A flows through the pilot valve 16.
The IR can be applied to the air-operated valve 18, and the container 2 can be filled with LPG independently of the control operation of the control unit 26.

In step S1□, along with the filling by the control unit 26,
Weighing of the balance 4 is performed at the same time, and it is determined whether the measured value of the balance 4 has reached the set weight. If the set weight has not been reached, the filling state is maintained, and if the set weight has been reached, the link mechanism 32 is lowered by lowering the weighing platform 6 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. link arm 3
8 operates the valve 22 to open the valve 22, and the compressed air AIR to the air-operated valve 18 is released through the pilot valve 16, thereby canceling the filling.

This filling/unloading operation is performed simultaneously or separately from the releasing operation by the control unit 26, so if there is a discrepancy between the weighing control by the control unit 26 and the weight setting by the balance 4, one of the Refilling will be performed first.

Therefore, if the weight W14o corresponding to the legally permissible filling amount W is set in the balance 4, the balance 4 can cancel the filling when the control unit 26 does not perform the filling cancellation operation. Safety can be ensured by avoiding inconveniences such as filling.

Furthermore, since the system consisting of the balance 4 and the filling operation section 28 and the system consisting of the load cell 24, the control section 26, and the filling operation section 28 share the filling original section 28 but are mutually independent, they can be operated individually. For example,
If electronic control by the control section 26 cannot be performed due to a power outage or the like, or if the control section 26 is out of order, proper filling can be performed using the former balance 4 and filling operation section 28.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the weight acts on the load cell 24 via the link arm 38 of the link mechanism 32 of the balance 4, but as shown in FIGS. The weight may be applied directly from the stand 6.

In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the pilot valve 16 is used in the filling operation section 28 to open and close the air-operated valve 18, but as shown in FIG. 48.50 may be used to perform the LPG filling operation.

In this case, the solenoid valve 48 is installed for regular use, and the solenoid valve 50 is installed for emergency use. With this configuration, when the filling start switch 44 is closed after the LPG supply pipe 12 is connected to the injection portion 8 of the container 2, the filling start signals It is output to the solenoid valve 48.
50 are simultaneously opened and the container 2 is filled with LPG. A measurement signal V from the load cell 24 indicates that the measurement value of the balance 4 has reached a specified filling amount. Based on this, the operation of the solenoid valves 48 and 50 is stopped and LPG filling is canceled. Furthermore, when the code cell 24 malfunctions, the limit switch 220 is operated by the movement of the link arm 38 of the link mechanism 32, which indicates that the measured value of the balance 4 has reached the specified filling amount. Since the operation of the electromagnetic valves 48 and 50 is canceled by the detection signal (2) representing the amount, overfilling can be prevented.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to this invention, it is possible to reduce the work required when filling a container with a fluid such as liquefied gas, and to accurately perform the filling operation using the first and second measuring means, thereby preventing problems such as overfilling. can be prevented and safety can be increased.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic fluid filling device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing container evaluation and filling control in the automatic filling device shown in FIG. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the operation of the balance, Figures 5 and 6 are diagrams showing the mounting location of the load cell, and Figure 7 is the automatic fluid filling device of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional automatic fluid filling device. 2... Container, 4... Balance (first measuring means), 6...
... Weighing stand, 24... Load cell (second measuring means)
, 26...control unit (control means), 28...filling operation unit. Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A first measuring means for measuring the fluid by placing a container filled with a fluid on a measuring stand;
a second measuring means that performs measurement together with the measuring means; and a second measuring means that reads data necessary for filling a specific container with fluid, determines whether or not the container can be filled with fluid, starts filling, and performs a second measurement. control means for releasing the filling when the measured value of the second measuring means reaches the filling amount calculated based on the measured value of the means; and controlling the fluid supply path by manual operation or by the filling start output of the control means. an automatic filling device for fluid, comprising: a filling operation section that opens and shuts off a fluid supply path according to a metering output of the first metering means or a filling release output of the control means;